Many factors influence community health including our ability to access and use health care services.  By quitting smoking, drinking in moderation, getting a yearly physical, and by exercising and eating right, we can improve our health and overall well-being.

• The Percent of Low Birth Weight Babies
• Servings of Fruit and Vegetables
  
• The number of General/Family Physicians
• The Percentage of Ambulance Time Lost to Hospital Turnaround
  

Supplementary Local and National Comparison Information

7-1 The Percent of Low Birth Weight Babies is an indicator of the number of infants born weighing less than 5.5 pounds.  Regardless of gestational age; a low-birth-weight infant is at risk for developing lack of oxygen during labour.

Source: 1997 and 2001 data are from Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics- Birth Database. 2008 figures from Canada Health Reports, 2008

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7-2 Servings of Fruit and Vegetables is an indication of how well we eat. 

Source: Statistics Canada http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-221-XIE/2008001/profiles-en.htm; 2008 figures from Canada Health Reports, 2008

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7-3 The number of General/Family Physicians available is an indicator of access to the health care system. 

(data was not available for 2002 in Waterloo Region)

Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information, Health Indicator Reports

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7-4 The Percentage of Ambulance Time Lost to Hospital Turnaround is an indicator of how long ambulances wait to be released from the hospital before returning to active duty. 

Source: OMBI 2007

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